Dying Matters Awareness Week; 6th-12th May

Every year, people across the country use Dying Matters Awareness Week as a moment to encourage their communities to get talking in whatever way, shape or form works for them, about Death and Dying.

This year local residents and death doulas Sarah Parker and Anne Overzee, of Dying with Grace, have curated a brilliant programme of events for Totnes and Bovey Tracey, in collaboration with Charlotte Dean, Christine Dumbelton, Clare Kidd and Maggie Burlington of Totnes Death Cafe Collective. Together they are proud to be part of a local community that is talking more openly about death, dying, bereavement and grief.

“Having these spaces to acknowledge death and dying can make our lives richer, deeper and more meaningful” Sarah Parker says. “They support us in truly cherishing our days here on this earth.”

Bovey Tracey hosts a creative cauldron of events on Tuesday 7th, Wednesday 8th and Thursday 9th May . There will be a series of workshops including new ways to engage in end of life planning , weaving, mandala painting, creative writing with creatrix Jackie Juno and felting with Yuli Somme of Bellacouche. Booking is essential for the program of events at Bovey, to book call 07717 221504.

Totnes hosts a rich programme on Saturday 11th May at Birdwood House in the centre of town. In the morning there will be talks including “stages of dying” from a soul midwife, “different approaches to funerals” from an independent funeral director and celebrant, and an opportunity to hear about the local woodland burial ground in Rattery. There will also be a selection of workshops including creative writing for our grief, mandala painting, choices at the end of life, and an afternoon of sound healing and spoken word. The day will end with an inclusive ritual where we will together remember our loved ones who are no longer with us. For full details visit the website at www.dyingwithgrace.co.uk/events

Over the road at Bogan House, Agata Krajewska of Theatre of Awakening will offer an experiential “Death as Ally” workshop on the afternoon of Saturday 11th May (booking is essential for this workshop – see www.dyingwithgrace.co.uk/events), followed by Playback Theatre’s ‘Red Earth’ performance from 7pm. Playback Theatre engages the audience in a creative conversation on a theme, in this case death and dying. A conductor will talk to the audience and ask for a response. The actors and musician will then ‘playback’ whatever has been shared in a way that reflects the ‘tellers’ experience . This can be poignant and powerful, funny , courageous and moving.

On Sunday afternoon, 12th May, in Totnes, Dying Matters Week concludes with a large Death Café, for Everyone, to come to and share their thoughts and feelings about death and dying. This will be held at The Hairy Barista. Everyone is welcome. The organisers are hoping that many people will come and join in the conversation. The afternoon will include poetry and will end with The Threshold Choir singing some gentle songs and lullabies that they offer at the bedside to people in their dying.

Far from being a morbid event, the vision here is a life affirming one, where we can connect to the support and the beauty that is available for us in life as it is in death.

The Bovey Tracey and Totnes Dying Matters Awareness Week programme is offered to local people for free or by donation, thanks to an Awards for All grant to Dying with Grace from the National Lottery.

All donations will be channelled back into supporting accessible end-of-life doula support for people in the local community.